Apparatus for applying liquids



J. F. SMITH 2,239,450

April 22, 1941.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS Filed March l2, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l H Hr LQ INVENTOR -pril 22, 1941. F SMITH 2,239,450

APPARATUS FR APPLYING LIQUIDS Filed March 12, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 22, 1941 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS John Frederick Smith, Quincy, Mass., assignor to Compo Shoe Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 12, 1937, Serial No. 130,484

7 Claims (Cl. 91-39) This invention relates to delivery of liquids and especially to apparatus for applying liquids to Work at a desired rate of flow.

`Objects of the invention are to provide apparatus which controls the rate of flow of liquid to be applied vto the work in a simple and emcient manner and `avoids possibility of leakage, is readily `adjustable for easy use by different operators and of simple construction, and maintains the liquid under conditions such that it is immediately available foruse at all times; and to provide structural embodiments of the apparatus which are readily constructed and allow eflicient use and operation thereof. v

A further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus wherein a gravity control is provided both for delivering the liquid and for shutting olf the flow line during periods of non-use While `.maintaining the liquid for immediate use `at all times substantially without loss due to leakage, etc., without necessitating the -manipulation of valves or the like and which speedily delivers an optimum amount in a manner which avoids dripping or other Wastage.

Other objects of the invention will in` part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the-features 1 of construction,` combination of elements, and arrangementof parts,` which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope 0f the invention will be indicated in the claims'.

vFor a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference .should be had to 'they following detailed description taken in gy;

connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one embodiment of the invention, with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged composite top plan View of certain related elements of the apparatus, with part of the connecting tube joining such elements broken away; and

Fig. 3 isr a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

conduit under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, but the use of valved outlets with serous solvents and the like is not feasible, even in the absence of any considerable pressure, be-

. cause of the ability and tendency ofsuch liquids to leak through the valve closure.

One such application is the cementing of sho Darts together such as a shoe outsole to a lasted upper. In cemented shoes it is a practice to apply cement to `the lasting allowance of the lasted upper and/or to the flesh side of the outsole, allowing the cement to dry and when the outsole is to be applied to the upper, cement solvent is applied t0 the d ry cement to activate it and the outsole and shoe upper are loaded into a sole-affixing press. In using a brush and pot, loss is occasioned by evaporation of the volatile solvent in the open pot, by the frequent application of more solvent than is necessary and by dripping from the loaded brush during its transfer from the pot to the work, since this fluid is so lacking in body that the bristles can not properly retain it. If a valved brush or like outlet is used for such solvent, leakage-is vfrequently encountered at the valve due to the serousity of the solvent.` i

These and other difficulties are avoided by the present invention whereby the use of a valved outlet and pumping are made unnecessary and optimum amounts `of liquid are eiiiciently deliverable at the work at all times. The scope of the invention is not to be limited to operations in the construction of shoes since it will readily appear that the principles of the invention are generally applicable to many operations whereinit is desired to control delivery of liquids in .an efficient and predetermined manner, and even `in the case of more viscous liquids many benets are obtained through use of certain features of the present invention.

Generally the apparatus comprises a supply of liquid having the surface thereof` located at a predetermined height and preferably at a constant level, liquid applying means, a gated passage from the supply to and through the applying means and means for locating work a predetermined distance below the surface of the liquid supply and preferably for locating the delivery portion of said applying means normally at or above said surface. For a more detailed description of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings wherein like nu- Inerals refer to like parts throughout.

A relatively large tank l0 for the liquid or solvent is mounted upon a pair of plates l I, I l, havlng `slots I2, I2 .therein to receive bolts I3, I3 for vertical adjustment relative to channel-shaped members I4, I4 xed to a frame I5 which may comprise parts of a shoe press support or the rail of a conveyor. The tank I is provided with a filler neck I6 adapted to receive a` ller cap.

At one end of the tank Il) is provided a projection I1 to which is secured a liquid or solvent supply container I8 by m-eans of a bolt I3. The supply container I8 is provided at the bottom with an inlet passage 20 terminating in an internally threaded extension 2| receiving the end of a conduit or pipe 22 leading from a liquid lter 23. The filter 23 comprises a base 24 having a valved inlet extension 25 communicating with the tank I ll by means of a conduit 25 to supply liquid from the tank I 0 to a cup 21 formed of any suitable material such as glass to allow inspection of the contents. The cup 21 is secured to lter base 24 by means oi a bail 28 or other suitable means so that it may be readily removed therefrom for cleaning. A filter screen mounted on the base 24 is interposed between the cup 21 and the conduit 22.

The inlet passage 23 of the container I8 communicates with the chamber 29 by means of an internally threaded passage 33 in which is mounted a valve seat unit 3I having an axial bore 32 extending therethrough and provided with' a valve seat 33. Beyond the valve seat a passage 34 extends between the bore 32 and the chamber 23. The cover 35 of the container IB is provided with an axial bore receiving for reciprocal movement the stem 36 of a valve rod 31. A vented cap 38 covers the stem 35 and the bore in the cover 35 through which it extends. The lower end of the valve rod 31 is tapered at 39 to have seating engagement with the valve seat 33 as shown in Fig. 3. Upon the valve rod 31 are mounted spaced collars 40, 40 between which are positioned ball ends 4I, 4I of pivoted weight arms 42, 42 carrying weights 43, 43 at the outer ends thereof and pivoted intermediate the ends at 44, 44 to projections 45, 45 mounted on the inner side of the cover 35. A hollow float 45 in the chamber 29 contacts the weights 43, 43 to operate the valve rod 31. An outlet passage 41 terminating in an internally threaded extension 48 communicates with the chamber 29.

A relief passage to the atmosphere for the chamber 29 is provided by a pipe 49 communieating with a hole through the container wall near its top. The end 50 of the pipe 49 is bent over to prevent the entrance of dust and foreign matter.

An elbow I threaded into the outlet extension 43 is connected to a needle valve 52 comprising an inlet passage 53 communicating with an outlet passage 54 through a gate opening 55 having a seat 56 adapted to cooperate with the tapered end of the needle 51 to vary the size of the gate opening through the valve. The outlet passage 54 of the valve 52 communicates with a flexible conduit 53 connected to an applicator or brush 59.

The applicator 59 consists of a head 33 having recess 5I receiving a porous body 52 of any suitable material such as felt. A cylindrical hole 63Y in the rear of the applicator head 5U communicates with the recess 6I by means'of a relatively small hole 54. The hole 63 receives the end of a pipe 55 which communicates with the conduit 58 and a grip 65 is mounted upon the pipe 55 as shown.

Upon the frame or conveyor rail I5 is mounted a rod 61 having the upper end thereof received by a collar 63 having a set screw 69 so that the collar may be located in any desired vertical position on the rod 61. The collar 68 carries a horizontally extending arm 10 notched at 1I to receive pipe of the applicator 59 so that the applicator head 60 will be supported on the top of the arm 1U.

On the frame or conveyor rail I5 is mounted a clamp 12 which receives rod 13 carrying a work rest 14. Clamp 12 is provided with a hand wheel 15 so that the work rest 14 may be moved vertically to any desired position.

When the device is used for the application of solvent to shoe parts having dried cement thereon the operator loosens the clamp 12, vertically adjusts the work rest 14 to a convenient height, and then tightens the clamp. The applicator support 10 is then adjusted on the rod 61 to a convenient height above the work rest 14, for example about four inches. The tank IIJ is then raised until a gage line 16 on the outside of the supply container I8 is at the same height as the top of the support arm 10 upon which is positioned the applicator head 60. The valve on the filter base 24 and the valve 52 are both closed, the cap in the filler neck I6 is removed, the tank I3 lled with solvent and the cap replaced. The valve in the lter base is then opened. The applicator head 6U is removed from the support 10, lowered until the felt body 62 is at about the same height as the work rest 14, and the valve 52 is gradually opened until the correct flow of liquid or solvent is obtained. With the applicator head 6U replaced on the support 10 the small hole 64 in the applicator head is approximately level with the surface of the liquid or solvent in the supply container I8. Thus the passage between the supply container I8 and the hole 64 is lled with liquid and the applicator felt 62 when not in use is kept moist by capillary action to compensate for evaporation. The support 10 and applicator head 60 are kept suiciently high, however, to prevent flow from the delivery end of lthe applicator during periods of l10n-USB.

In Fig. 1 is shown by Way of example a lasted shoe upper A having an outsole B attached thereto at the heel by a locating tack C. The outsole B having dry cement on its upper face is positioned on the work rest 14 as shown and the operator removes the applicator 59 from the support 10 and brushes the applicator felt 62 over the upper surface of the outsole B to apply an optimum amount of solvent to the dry cement. If the lasted upper A also carries dry cement on the lasting allowance it is positioned at the same height as the top of the work rest and solvent applied thereto with the applicator in a similar manner. The lasted upper and outsole with softened cement therebetween are then loaded in a press in the usual manner.

As liquid or solvent flows from the supply container, the float 46 allows the weights 43, 43 to lift the valve rod 31 to provide communication between the bore 32 and hole 34. More solvent will now into the chamber 29 from tank Ill until a predetermined level is reached when the float 4G will raise the weights 43, 43 causing the arms 42 to lower the valve rod 31 thereby shutting the valve, Thus a substantially constant level supply of liquid or solvent is maintained in the container I3.

When the opening through the valve 52 is larger than the hole 64 in the applicator head 60 and` thetotal of the cross-sectional'areas of the pores through the body B2 'is' greater than the cross-sectional area of thehole 64 the latter serves as a gate openingr in the passage between the supply in .container I8 Aand theface of the applicator or brush body 62. Of course if the total of the cross-sectionalareas of the pores through the applicator body 62 is less than the cross-sectional area of the hole 64 the plurality of pores together constitute the gate opening but the reverse condition is preferred. If the opening through the valve 52 is smaller than the hole 64 the former constitutes the gate opening in the passage. The distance h between the top of the work rest M and the surfacev of the supply in container I8 and the cross-sectional area of the gate opening govern chieiiy the rate of flow of liquid from the applicator, and can be regulated to suit the operators requirements. Once the line has been so regulated it is in condition for continual use, and the elimination of a closure valve at the delivery end of the flow line enables such line readily to be kept in a liquid tight condition. Such valves as are used in the fixed portion of the line may be more adequately fitted and stuffed than an -applicator valve which is subject to constant opening and closure. Further, even the regulating and closure valve 52 may be eliminated (or used only for closure and not for regulatory purposes) if it is desired to control the rate of flow entirely through the gravity pressure head h between the constant fluid level and the work table level, while using a iixed gate opening constituted by the opening through the most restricted portion of thepassage between the supply and the brush face or the orifice alt the brush face if the passage is uniform in cross-section.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above are attained in an eflicient manner and since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that lall matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire .to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Apparatus for applying liquids comprising a container, means adapted to maintain a supply of liquid therein at a constant level, a movable applicator, a conduit between said container and said applicator having a flexible section to :allow movement of said applicator, a liquid conducting passage having a gate opening therein extending through said conduit and said applicator, means to support the applicator when not in use with the passage therein at substantially the same height at which the surface of the liquid is to be maintained in said container, a work rest, and means for adjusting the relative heights of said work rest and said container and supporting means whereby work may be located a predetermined distance below the supported position of said applicator, said distance and the cross-sectional area of the gate opening being correlated in a manner whereby a predetermined rate of flow of liquid is obtainable when the applicator is applied to the work.

container, means adapted to maintain a supply of liquid therein at a constant level,` a movable applicator, a conduit between said container and said applicator communicating with a passage through the latter and having a iiexible section to allow movement of said applicator, an adjustable valve in said conduit, means to support said applicatorl when not in use with the passage therein at substantially the same height at which the surface of the liquidis to be maintained in said container, a work rest, and means for adjusting the relative heights of said work rest andsaid container and supporting means whereby work may be located a predetermined distance below the supported position of said applicator.

3. Apparatus for applying liquids comprising a frame, a tank, a container mounted for vertical adjustment on said frame, a conduit between said tank and said container, a float valve to maintain a constant level supply of liquid from said tank in said container, a movable applicator, an outlet for said container terminating in an adjustable valve, a iiexible conduit between said last-mentioned valve and said applicator communicating with a passage through the latter, an applicator support mounted for vertical adjustment on said frame whereby said applicator when not in use may be positioned with the passage therein at substantially the same height at which the surface of the liquid is to be maintained in said container, and a work rest mounted for vertical adjustment on said frame whereby work may be located a predetermined distance below the supported position of said applicator.

4. Apparatus for applying liquid comprising a main liquid supply tank, a secondary supply tank in communication with said main tank and having means for maintaining the liquid in such secondary tank at a constant level, an applicator adapted to be employed in a plane below said constant level, a iiexible liquid conducting tube connecting said applicator and said secondary tank, said tube and applicator having an open conduit therethrough providing for a gravity flow of liquid from said applicator whenever it is lowered beneath said constant level, and a holder vertically positioned to receive and hold said applicator at a height suflicient to prevent flow of ,liquid from the applicator when it is in the holder.

5. Apparatus for applying liquid to shoe parts comprising a liquid supply tank, a movable applicator, exible tubing connecting said applicator vand tank, said tube and applicator having a constantly open conduit therethrough providing for the gravity iiow of liquid from said tank to and out from said applicator when itis lowered beneath the level of the iiuid in said tank, and means for cutting off the flow of liquid through said applicator when it is not in use comprising a holder vertically positioned to receive and hold said applicator with the open end of saidconduit 1at least as high as the level of the liquid in said ank.

6. Apparatus for applying liquids to work comprising a liquid supply tank, means for maintaining liquid therein at a constant level, an applicator movable to different vertical positions with respect to said constant level, an open conduit extending from the work engaging portion of said applicator to the liquid in said tank to provide for the gravity iiow of liquid from said applicator when it is lowered beneath said constant level, `and means for cutting ofi the flow of liquid through said conduit when the applicator is not in use comprising a holder vertically xed in position to receive said applicator and hold it so that the open end of said conduit is approximately at said constant level, the remainder of said open conduit at such time being positioned below said constant level whereby it is kept full of liquid.

7. Apparatus for applying liquids to work comprising a liquid supply tank, means for maintaining liquid therein at a constant level, an applicatorl movable to different vertical positions l0 with respect to said constant level, an open con- 

